How'd You Learn That?

In today’s economy, we face two really big challenges. One is technological change, which is creating gaps between the skills employers need and those workers can offer. The other is rising inequality, which stifles talent – holding back not just individuals and families but whole societies. My guest today, Jobs for the Future CEO Maria Flynn, is tackling both of those problems at the same time!

“Innovation” might not be the first word that comes to mind when we think about education. But in recent years, the sector has seen an explosion in new technologies – like online learning – as well as new business models – like hire-train-deploy. My guest today, Wiley Education Services President Todd Zipper, is on the front lines of those developments.

Not every guest makes you rethink the premise of your show, but Tom Schaff managed it. An executive coach who trains Fortune 500 sales teams and collaborates with the likes of Tony Robbins and Robert Cialdini, Tom told me that, in his view, "Identity trumps skills every time." Whoa. Is that true? Listen to find out! 

The world has changed a lot since my dad came from Gujarat to the U.S. to study engineering in 1967; but Indians are more eager than ever to study overseas. Amit Garga helps them do just that. His company works with universities in the United States, Canada, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand to develop hybrid degree programs that can be completed partly online and partly on campus. Join us to discuss the past, present, and future of international student mobility.

Professor Tony Carnevale, founder and director of Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce and co-author of the seminal book The Merit Myth, has been advising U.S. presidents, both Democrat and Republican, for decades. In this episode, he addresses American colleges and the inequality he says they continue to stoke; and he discusses the Infrastructure Bill, which he sees as good for the working class... but only up to a point. The unifying theme, one we have encountered before on this podcast, is America's chronic disconnect between education and the economy.

So you have sold your business. You have $1 billion burning a hole in your pocket. What next? What skills do you need? Who is going to teach you? Join me and Tiger 21 CEO Tim Daniels as we discuss wealth management, philanthropy, and your "personal board of directors."

Humans are living longer; but thanks to technology, the useful life of any learned skill is getting shorter. No longer can we hope to complete all our education - K-12, college, grad school - by the age of 25! Enter Michele Weise, expert in adult learning and author of Long Life Learning: Preparing for Jobs that Don't Even Exist Yet. Join us to discuss the unbundling of credentials, the need for more widespread generalism, and crucially, who should pay!

Persuasion is one of the most in-demand skills. But how do you learn it? Bob Lehrman, veteran of the Clinton White House, professor of speechwriting at American University, and author of the seminal Political Speechwriter's Companion, has the answers!

Life coaching. Just a few years ago, it was the butt of jokes. Today, it seems everyone has a coach. Michael Huckaby founded his company, LifeRamp, in 2020 with the aim of bringing coaching to the masses. On this episode, we find out what coaching is, what it isn't, and how it can help millions of people navigate an increasingly volatile job market.

Disruptive innovation is all the rage these days. And if there is one sector that could use a bit of disruption, it’s higher education. Most colleges and universities still teach the same subjects using the same methods they have for decades, if not centuries. Author and speaker Michael Horn is out to change all that. Join us to find out how!

The skillset for many jobs has become increasingly specialized over the years; but product management remains the perfect role for generalists. Carlos González de Villaumbrosia founded Product School in 2014, and since then he has built the company into the leading global trainer of product managers. But what exactly is product management? Why does it matter? And how does it prove the need for breadth as well as depth in the workforce? Join us to find out!

The pandemic has hit teachers hard. But for Vikas Pota, a go-to guru for education policymakers globally, COVID-19 has a silver lining: an opportunity to reform education for the better. His new organization, T4 Education, has already brought together tens of thousands of teachers from over 150 countries in a movement for change. Join us to find out how Vikas is helping to "build back better" in the classroom.

In this episode, we discuss how teaching people about AI, starting with kids in school, can help society deal with potential misuses of the technology. My guest, Sid Banerjee, is the founder of Clarabridge, a company that uses artificial intelligence to improve the customer experience in many industries. He is also on the board of my kids' school, so he knows a bit about K-12, too!

We kick off 2022 with one of my higher education heroes, Paul LeBlanc. For almost 20 years, Paul has headed up Southern New Hampshire University, one of America’s largest, most accessible, and most innovative colleges. Join us as we discuss how to make a college education more affordable and accessible for all students - not just a privileged few.

What do martial arts and facilitation have in common? Turns out, quite a bit! Join me and Adam Steiner, a certified facilitator and Fifth Dan expert in martial arts, as we discuss the skill one needs to be a good facilitator... and a good fighter!

This week's guest is an award-winning comedy performer and teacher who specializes in a form of group comedy called improv. Unlike sketches or standup routines, which tend to be honed over months or years, improv is made up on the spot. Join us as we discuss what improv can teach us about living in the moment, connecting with others, and opening up to the world.

Why did the United States fail in Afghanistan? Baktash Ahadi, who served there as a combat interpreter with U.S. Marine special forces, thinks part of the answer is an accumulation of simple cultural misunderstandings. How can we avoid such mistakes in the future? By adopting an attitude of what Baktash calls "radical curiosity." Curious? Join us to find out more.

What's wrong with this picture? Millions of college-educated Americans are unemployed or underemployed. Meanwhile, millions of entry-level jobs requiring a college degree are vacant. That's the kills gap, and it's a massive problem for early-career workers and for our economy. How can we begin to close it? To find out, we join Ryan Craig, one of the best-known investors and commentators in the world of education. 

Technology is transforming just about every occupation; and with medicine, the change is likely to be especially profound—and the stakes particularly high. Unfortunately, as Jeff Flier discussed with me, the profession has grown very small-c conservative when it comes to innovation. Can physicians face the future and sharpen their skills? Find out in this week's episode!

Secretary John King has seen the U.S. education system from almost every conceivable angle. He started his career as a history teacher and middle-school principal before going on to serve as New York State education commissioner and then as President Obama's education secretary during his second term. Today, he is a college professor and president of an education nonprofit. He is also running for governor of Maryland! In this episode, we talk about civics and the importance of covering the problematic parts of American history and culture.